Family Perplexed by Auburndale Man's Jump to Death on I-4

Published: Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 11:39 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 11:39 p.m.

AUBURNDALE | The family of a man who apparently jumped to his death on Interstate 4 on Monday morning said it is "as perplexed as the general public" about what happened, according to an emailed statement by a family friend, sent Tuesday to Ledger Media Group.

Billyjoe "BJ" Weed, 32, jumped from the State Road 559 overpass onto the eastbound lanes of I-4, where he was hit by a pickup, shortly after 7 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Sean Klotzbach, 42, of Dover, was driving the truck. He was not injured.

According to the email sent by Chelsea McCutchin, Weed had no drug or alcohol problems or signs of depression.

He did have health problems. According to a fundraising website on rally.org, the husband and father of two had severe arthritis in his back and neck, Tourette syndrome and a bone disease that was causing him to lose his teeth.

He also began having seizures in July 2013, which disrupted his life. The family was trying to raise money to pay for diagnosis and treatment.

"BJ and his wife, Aimee, have been inseparable for the past 16 years, and his devotion to her and their two children was unshakable," the statement says. "The only fact we know is that he would not have done this on purpose."

Anyone who would like to help the family financially can make a donation at any Wells Fargo branch under the name of his widow, Aimee Nicole Weed, who is an Auburndale firefighter.

<p>AUBURNDALE | The family of a man who apparently jumped to his death on Interstate 4 on Monday morning said it is "as perplexed as the general public" about what happened, according to an emailed statement by a family friend, sent Tuesday to Ledger Media Group.</p><p>Billyjoe "BJ" Weed, 32, jumped from the State Road 559 overpass onto the eastbound lanes of I-4, where he was hit by a pickup, shortly after 7 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol.</p><p>Sean Klotzbach, 42, of Dover, was driving the truck. He was not injured.</p><p>According to the email sent by Chelsea McCutchin, Weed had no drug or alcohol problems or signs of depression.</p><p>He did have health problems. According to a fundraising website on rally.org, the husband and father of two had severe arthritis in his back and neck, Tourette syndrome and a bone disease that was causing him to lose his teeth.</p><p>He also began having seizures in July 2013, which disrupted his life. The family was trying to raise money to pay for diagnosis and treatment.</p><p>"BJ and his wife, Aimee, have been inseparable for the past 16 years, and his devotion to her and their two children was unshakable," the statement says. "The only fact we know is that he would not have done this on purpose."</p><p>Anyone who would like to help the family financially can make a donation at any Wells Fargo branch under the name of his widow, Aimee Nicole Weed, who is an Auburndale firefighter. </p><p>[ Sara Drumm can be reached at sara.drumm@newschief.com. ]</p>